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Oscar Nominations: Animated Shorts

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One of the categories I never know what I’m voting for is the animated shorts. They always look so interesting and I wish I would know what I’m voting for (because I so rarely choose correctly). This year I decided to actually watch them and feel a bit more justified in my answer, rather than what name sounded the coolest. This year, I probably would have picked Fresh Guacamole from the name which, now that I’ve seen it, hasn’t captured my heart like Paperman.

Paperman was so cute! I actually got so upset when he was giving up because of the wind but when the paper planes all got together to help the couple find each other it was overwhelmingly sweet. None of the other shorts moved me in the way this one did, so I’m definitely hoping Paperman wins. Although not a good link, here’s the short: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GoppD5x2Qk

Fresh Guacamole is a surprise nominee. Although I don’t expect this to win I absolutely love it, perhaps because of the simplicity. I love the food items which you recognize but aren’t actually food (baseballs cut into dice, then being chopped into smaller dice). Possibly what made it for me was right at the end, as the hand goes to grab some of the guacamole with a (poker) chip and it snaps, forcing him reach in and fetch it out. Such a common thing that everyone connects with at the end. To watch for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMO6vjmkyI

Adam and Dog is a visual masterpiece with a wonderful, heartwarming soundtrack. It definitely has a feel of both Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki. I can only imagine what the full short would be, as we only have opportunity to view the trailer. To check out the trailer, click here: http://vimeo.com/34849443

Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare” had comical moments but I was never as attached to this as I was to Paperman. I did enjoy the social commentary that all Simpson’s creations have and how they incorporated that into day care for toddlers. Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KJ5SI_DZRo

Head Over Heels looks incredibly interesting, and definitely the most dramatic piece nominated this year, but I’m not sure it’s something that would pull me to vote for it, maybe that’s because I’m not seeing the full short. Once again, we can only see the trailer: http://vimeo.com/37604847

I’m interested that all these shorts appear to have no dialogue and work completely in the music and animation alone. The fact that such intense feelings can come from such a short piece without any words (such as in Paperman) is quite remarkable and I definitely hope Disney Animation gets their dues for this one.